President's Day Potluck

For a short month, February sure packs Presidential Punch. Four United States Presidents were born in February and we have the President's Day holiday to celebrate them. We're all familiar with Abraham Lincoln on the 12th and George Washington on the 22nd. This year marked the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan on February 6th. William Henry Harrison's 238th birthday followed just three days later.

Here at Potluck Paradise headquarters we think these birthdays and all the other presidents provide a perfect platform for potluck. The menu could practically write itself. From Reagan's favorite Mac and Cheese through Washington's storied Cherry Pie there's a lot of good eating to be dished up from American History.

I have two favorite presidential recipe collections. Both of them have blogs all their own, accessible from this site. There is a look at Abraham Lincoln's life through the foods he may have enjoyed with recipes from his time adapted for today's kitchen. In the Food Will Win the War blog, there are recipes from WWI. Herbert Hoover served voluntarily as the United States food commissioner during those days when we shipped vast quantities of wheat and meat, fats and sugar to our allies in Europe.

This recipe saves fat, sugar, and eggs and is a delicious way to taste history one dessert plate at a time.

Easy Herbert Hoover World War I Cake

2 cups brown sugar
2 cups hot water
2 tablespoons lard (or butter)
1 teaspoon salt, optional
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 package (8 ounces) raisins, chopped
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Put everything but soda and flour into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Boil 5 minutes after it bubbles, then cool. Stir in soda and flour. Put batter into a lightly greased loaf pan. Bake 45 minutes. Cake keeps fresh a long time and can “be sent to men at the front.”